Stephen McAleese Award for Inspiration 2021

The Stephen McAleese Award for Inspiration was awarded to Anita Pascoe at the UKABIF Time for Change Summit on 8th November 2021. 

In July 2000, Anita Pascoe’s 54-year-old Mum, Ann, collapsed following a brain hemorrhage and she remained severely brain injured until her death earlier this year. For 20 years Anita fought to get her Mum properly supported. Accepting the Award, Anita said: “I have been inspired by so many people who have survived acquired brain injury and overcome huge challenges. We had to fight so hard over the years and that is just not right. You should not need to have someone fighting your corner in order for your needs to be met.”

The award was sponsored by Elysium Neurological.

About Stephen 

Stephen was rushed to hospital with meningitis at the age of 15. Luckily, his life was saved but he needed extensive rehabilitation. He returned to school one year later, but was in a wheelchair and needed a lot of support to come to terms with his new life as a disabled person - his family were central to this. 

The post-school experience was very difficult for Stephen. With the structure of schooldays behind him and the medical profession judging that his condition had reached a plateau, Stephen was facing the prospect of a long life with long-term disabilities. 

A major turning point occurred in his life when he discovered North Cumbria Headway in Carlisle. Headway became a second family and provided Stephen with many new opportunities. He took part in the Tall Ships Race under the auspice of the Jubilee Sailing Trust with a mixed physical abilities crew and sailed the Baltic Sea and made an Atlantic crossing in the tall ship Tenacious. 

Stephen spent much of his time raising awareness and campaigning for specialist neuro-service and rehabilitation. He became an authoritative voice and was appointed to the Northern Acquired Brain Injury Forum and was also a trustee of UKABIF. 

During this time he brought energy and enthusiasm to the UKABIF board, together with learnings from his own lived experience of acquired brain injury. He was invited to speak about his experiences at the first meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury.  Very sadly Stephen passed away and UKABIF established this award in his name the following year. 

Stephen’s parents, John and Susan present his award each year and have remained close to UKABIF and its cause.

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